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Knee replacement surgery or arthroplasty is a common surgery where your damaged or diseased knee is replaced with an artificial joint. This surgery is necessary when your knee joint has worn out or damaged due to injury. This reduces your mobility, and you suffer pain while resting.
This article details all about knee replacement, types of surgeries and the average cost in India. If you have knee replacement surgery ahead of time, read this piece to gain information on the same.
For those who do not know what knee replacement surgery is called, it is known as arthroplasty. Knee replacement surgery helps to relieve knee aches and reimpose function in extremely damaged knee joints. The surgery involves removing the diseased bone and cartilage from your shinbone, thighbone and kneecap. This follows replacing it with a prosthesis. A prosthesis is an artificial implant made of acrylic resin, thermoplastics, silicone, carbon fibre, titanium and aluminium.
Knee Replacement surgery is suggested by physicians to treat the following diseases and damages in your knee:
The common types of knee replacement surgery in India offered by renowned hospitals are as follows:
Total knee replacement surgery involves the procedure when prosthetics replace both sides of your knee joints. To treat osteoarthritis, total knee replacement can be considered. This type of knee replacement is a traditional surgery that includes an 8-inch incision on your knees.
After the surgery, a patient needs to move with the help of a walker or a cane and rest for at least three to four months as prescribed by the doctor. Most of the patients have stated a complete recovery after a successful total knee replacement surgery. This knee surgery is most common in middle-aged and older people with arthritis in more than one knee compartment.Â
Partial Knee Replacement or partial knee resurfacing is an effective surgical procedure conducted by doctors. This is for those patients who suffer arthritis in one section of their knees.Â
Unicompartmental osteoarthritis in knees happens when it affects only one section of your knees, whereas the other sections remain not so damaged. In partial knee replacement surgery, the bone surfaces of only one knee section are replaced with the help of prosthetics.
When a section of the inner and kneecap compartment requires replacement, it is termed Bicompartmental partial knee replacement surgery. Surgeons conduct a 4-inch incision in the front section of your knee during this surgery.Â
After this, the patient's kneecap is repaired, and prosthetics are implanted perfectly.
This surgery is conducted when your kneecap has been damaged due to continuous and natural wear and tear or arthritis. Doctors perform a 4-inch incision in the frontal section of your knee.Â
After resurfacing the kneecap, cartilage is removed from the bone to implant. Prosthetics are then implanted between the thighbone and kneecap.
If you have arthritis damage in only one section of your knee, your doctor might recommend knee osteotomy. This surgery involves removing or adding bone to your femur or tibia. This will help shift your total body weight from the damaged section of your joint.Â
People who are under sixty and active generally undergo this surgery.
A surgery that removes the broken bits of your cartilage, this surgery reduces pain and improves the movement of your knee.Â
To reduce the symptoms of arthritis and remove the damaged tissue and regain the functioning of your knee, doctors perform this surgery.
Mosaicplasty is another knee surgery where defective knees are repaired by transplantation of healthy cartilage and bone from less or non-weight bearing areas of your knee.Â
This is used to treat minor cartilage defects caused to people below 45 years of age.Â
Once your surgery date is fixed, there are certain preparations you have to follow before the operation. Many of the patients are stressed out before this surgery. Following the below tips will help them to recover faster postoperative.
Certain medications interfere with your recovery, so you need to stop taking them until the surgery. According to AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), they are:
Anaesthesia is always better on an empty stomach. However, some doctors recommend patients have certain food and drinks, such as:
It is essential to cut down your alcohol consumption during these days because of the following:
Doctors suggest certain exercises to strengthen your body.
Although most knee replacement surgeries are successful, there are risks associated with them as well. Most patients who undergo the operation do not have many risks and recover within a few months. However, here are some knee replacement surgery risks you may find:
You should immediately consult your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. There may be specific cases where the knee joint is not properly placed. Doctors can correct this with further surgeries.
As soon as you go for a knee replacement surgery, the preparation process can take weeks and months, depending on your body condition. Before the surgery, a team of medical practitioners will analyse your condition and suggest a few tests.
A medical team will refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon after that. Here are the evaluations you need to do:
You can keep a note of what to ask before knee replacement surgery from your doctor. There will be further tests to analyse your condition before the surgery the next day.
On the surgery day, you are likely to reach 90 minutes before the operation. The total surgery time is normally two hours depending upon how complex the operation is.
However, here are some pointers that you have to do on your operation day:
After knee replacement surgery, the medical team will take you to a recovery room for two hours. Doctors will prescribe certain medications to reduce swelling and pain post-operation.
However, here is what to expect after surgery:
Many hospitals encourage following ERP or enhanced recovery programmes. The focus is to get the patient moving and walking within 18 hours of surgery. This ERP system is beneficial before and after knee replacement surgery to ensure you are ready for surgery and faster recovery post-surgery.
Although nurses will remove most of these systems two to three days post-operation, some painkillers will continue to reduce pain in your joints. As anaesthesia and strong antibiotics wear off, you will need painkillers to sustain. As you are discharged from the hospital after surgery, doctors will prescribe follow-up checks and supporting exercises.
The more you move your ankle and foot, the more active you become as it increases blood flow into leg muscles. These are post-knee replacement surgery precautions to follow.
Most of the operations are successful in knee replacement surgery. However, certain patients suffer additional conditions for which they need to see a doctor. They are as follows:
If you have anxiety related to knee replacement surgery, you also have certain alternatives, thanks to advanced medical treatments. All these depend upon your medical condition. Here is a certain alternative to knee replacement surgery:
Cartilage Regeneration
Doctors might suggest cartilage regeneration if you do not have severe arthritis and have a better bone condition. Here they will replace only the damaged cartilage instead of replacing the joint. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a new medical treatment where doctors take a sample of your cartilage, grow them in labs, and surgically replant them in your knees.
Radiofrequency Ablation or RFA
Radiofrequency Ablation reduces the risks of osteoarthritis by destroying the sensory nerves. These nerves carry pain signals from your knee to the pain. Therefore, it is helpful to control severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injections
Cortisone shots or Hyaluronic acid injections help lubricate your knee's inner sections, relieving arthritis pain. These injections can temporarily relieve the pain and post your surgery for a few months only.
Knee replacement surgery cost in India varies from one city to another and depends on the type of surgery too. Consider the approximate cost given to know the cost of knee replacement surgery. You can also consult your medical practitioner to undergo the one required for you.
Well, you also have an idea of what knee replacement surgery is and know about its benefits and success rate. So, without a second thought, consult a doctor if you are suffering from intense joint pain. Your medical team will assist you further with the process of surgery thereafter.
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